Compare towns
Boxborough vs Hamilton vs Upton vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Williamstown is a college town. 28.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Boxborough | Hamilton | Upton | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
7,600 |
8,189 |
9,150Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA |
| Upton and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
24.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$106,650±$25kLowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$437,100±$39kLowest 22% below MA |
| Hamilton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173Highest 7% above MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,584±$292 10% below MA |
| Boxborough and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$5,290Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
16 minLowest 45% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
27.3%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Williamstown and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #45 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hamilton-Wenham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Mount Greylock |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Blackstone Valley | Mt Greylock Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.